Dispensing device for towels and the like



Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,038

H. o. YEHLEN DISPNSING DEVICE FOR TOWELS AND THE LIKE yed Nov. 9, 19259) 4, .K

Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNITED srArEs PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. YEI-ILEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR LINEN &TOWEL SERVICE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION y0FMISSOURI.

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR TOWELS .AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November 9, 1925. Serial No. 67,824.

` as well as ornamental ones; the provision of a ydevice of the typedescribed which posi tively feeds individual towels consecutively into aposition where they may be readily grasped by a user; the provision ofsuch a device as described which'will not jam or stick, which is readilyand easily filled for use, and one which will prevent'unauthorizedremoval ofv towels and the like therefrom. Other objects will be in partobvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists of the elementsand combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts whichwill'be exemplified in the structure hereinafter describedV and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the followingclaims. y

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of the invention,

Fig. lis a top plan view of the dispensing i cabinet showing the topthereof folded back;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the to-p closed and the device indispensing position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 showing partsin section, and shows the top closed in an .alternate position; n Y

Fig. 4 is an illustrativedetail of a locking collar; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a follower on its rails or guides. Y

Similar reference characters indicate cors responding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanyingdrawings, there is designated at 1, asubstantially vertical framecomprising uprights 3 and .5, and an upper lateral paneled frame 7. Theframe 1 is held in a stable upright position by means On the front edgesof the uprights 3 and 5 i are formed supporting braces 13 and 15respectively. These braces support a substantially horizontal floor orbottom 17 of an upper supply chamber. The floor 17 is placed at aboutthe center of the paneled frame 7 although the construction is notlimited to such a position of the floor.

The braces 13 and 15 are provided with upward extensions or coninuations19 and 21 respectively which form the sides of said upper sup-plychamber. The upper portion of the panel 23 which is set fintoy the upperframe 7, forms the rearward side of said chamber. The upper cross-memberof frame 7 also forms part of the rear of the upper chamber.

The front ofthe supply chamber is only partially closed in permanentlyby means of a piece 25. f

f The cover for the supply chamber com prises a lid 27 hinged to the topof the' frame 1. Hinged to the front edge of said lid 27 is a framedmirror 29. This mirror is adapted to fold fiat against the under side ofthe lid 27 when the lid, is in an open position (see Fig. 3). Thisfolding action facilitates access to the interior of the cabinet, forrefilling purposes and the like. It may be noted that opening the lidwith the mirror thereon, clears the topf and front of the cabinet forloading purposes. Nothing stands in the way; not even a top frontportion of the supply chamber itself, as the mirror formed such portionwhen the lid was closed. The last statement holds true because themirror is also adapted to take a position at right angles to said lid,whereupon when the lid is closed the lower portion of the mirror and itsframe partially close in the supply chamber. A'

when in closed position, whereby a practicable and usable area. is givento the mirror. The mirror is mounted at a height such that a standingperson of ordinary stature may approximately view his own head andshoulders therein. It should be noted that the mirror is braced againstswing in either direction (when the lid is closed) by the lid itself andthe upper portions 19 and 21 of braces 13 and 15.

lVithin the supply chamber and on the upper cross-member of frame 7, iscentrally formed a clip or brace 35, to which is removably pinned and/orlocked a forwardly sloping bar or rod 37. The rod 37 passes out of thenotch 31 at the front of the cabinet and has outwardly fastened theretoa chain 39. The maximum diameter of the chain is not more than that ofthe rod 37. It is of such length that its lower end may rest on thebottom 11 of the receiving chamber 9. At its lower end it carries ashortrod 41, equal in diameter to the rod 37.

Adapted to be locked to the rods 37 and 41 are lock collars 43.Predetermined positioned holes in said rods govern the positions atwhich the collars are locked. The collars are locked by means of a keyand bolt for each (see Figs. 3 and 4).

As indicated in Fig. 3 towels 45 or the like provided with upwardcent-rally located holes 47 may be threaded on the rod 37, either by wayof the chain 39 or the rear of the rod, that is if proper and authorizedremoval of either of the lock collars 43 is accomplished. The rod 37 maybe unclipped or unlocked from the clip 35 for this described loadingpurpose. f

The towels, prior to loading, have had their lower ends folded upwardly(by ironing or otherwise) until the lower edges are posi tioned justbeneath the holes 47. The rod 37 maybe threaded through the towels whilethey are in a pile and folded as described, this facilitating theoperation of threading.

The foremost towel, after the threading and mounting of rod 37 isaccomplished, is adapted to rest against the piece 25, with its upwardlyfolded lower edge at the opening 33. Here the said edge may be graspedby a user and the towel withdrawn for use. The towel is used whilethreaded on the chain, on to which it is slipped as it is withdrawn.After use thereof, it is dropped and slides along the chain and downinto the receiving chamber 9. It is obvious that the holes 47 may beprovided with proper eyelets, or otherwise lined to prevent weartherein. Figs. 2 and 3 indicate how the closed-down lid and mirrorassembly hold the top of the towels in an upright position before theirconsecutive withdrawal.

It is almost obvious that after all the towels have been used anddeposited in the chamber 9, that authorized removal thereof may be madefrom the chain 39, hy unlocking and removing the lower lock collar 43 onrod 41. Unauthorized removal may not normally be accomplished fromeither the rod 37 or chain 39. It is to be understood the rod 37 is tobe locked to its clip 35, and/or the lidmirror assembly may be lockedshut. Hence unauthorized removal of the towels, rod 37 and chain 39, asauunit is forestalled. hfeans for locking the rod 37 to its clip isindicated at numeral 38. It is thought that there is no novelty in lock33 per se and detailed construction thereof is therefore not indicated.It should be noted that if desired, oelivery of a loaded chain and rod37 may be made to the machine by opening lock 38 only. Hence a towelsupply company may control the collar keys, while a rental customercontrols the key to lock 33. By this means no towels could be lost atthe rental custcmers cabinet or at the hands of dishonest er carelessdelivery men.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide positive means forbringing each towel into a withdrawable position. This is accomplishedby the provision of two side rails 49 which slant in the generaldirection of therod 37, and run from clamped portions 51 in upperportion of the supply chamber to aligning portions 53in the lowerforward piece 25. The rails or guides 49 are adapted to pass at eitherside of the towels mounted on the rod 37.

Slidably mounted on the rails 49, by means of sidewardly and downwardlyfashioned hooks 55 is a preferably wooden follower 57.

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This follower normally tends to slide down f y the guides 49, to pressthe towels together and against the front piece 25. By this means afresh towel is positively fed into receivable position every time thefirst towel in the line is withdrawn. It may be noted that the follower57 is suspended at an axis above its center of gravity and thereby isprevented from sticking. It is self-aligning. It may be made of othermaterial besides that above stated. In fact the complete device may bemade of any suitable material, and yet comprise the elements of noveltyherein described.

The rods 49 that carry the follower 57 are mechanicallyl separate fromthe rod 37 that carries the towels, whereby objectionable interferencewith that of the towels is avoided.

In view of the above, it is believed that the various features of thisinvention will be clear without further elaboration, and it will be seenthat with the apparatus herein described, the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying `out the above constructionwithout departing from'the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a.limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A supply cabinet conipi'ising a supply chamber for towels and thelike, a forward passage in said chamber for the consecutive delivery oftowels therethrough, a stationary piece for forming the lower edge ofsaid passage, a hinged mirrored piece for forming the upper edgetliereof,said upper and lower edges being spaced apart a substantialdistance to form said passage, and a lid hinged to the rear of saidchamber for closing it, said lid carrying said mirrored piece hingedforwardly thereof, the upper edge of the mirrored piece being positioneda substantial distance above the hinge line with the lid, whereby thearea of the mirror may be increased.

2. Means for consecutively withdrawing articles such as towels and thelike from a chainber provided with an opening in the front thereof, abar fastened within the chamber and sloping to the opening, and apressure de vice foi pressing the lower folded portions of the articlesagainst the opening comprising a slidable piece and forwardly slopingrails therefor adapted to guide said piece against the articles, saidrails being below said bar and having a greater slope than said bar.

3. Means for consecutively withdrawing articles such as towels and thelike from a chamber provided with an opening in the front thereof, a barfastened within the chamber and sloping downwardly to the opening, and apressure device for pressing the lower folded portions of the articlesagainst the opening comprising a slidable piece and forwardly slopingrails therefor adapted to guide said piece against the articles, saidrails being mounted at the sides of the articles and below said chamber,and having a greater slope than said bar.

4. A dispensing cabinet for towels and the like comprising a chamberprovided with an opening in the front thereof, a removable sloping rodlocated upwardly in said chamber for mounting articles to be dispensed,downward sloping guides in said chamber below said rod for aligning thetowels and a follower slidably suspended from said guides adapted topress the articles to a dispensing position by the action of gravity,the guides and follower being in a non-interfering position for loadingthe chamber and adapted to align and guide the towels, said sidewardsloping guides having a greater slope than said removable rod.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication this 5thday of November, 1925.

HENRY O. YEHLEN.

